Sony Animation Taps DreamWorks Animation’s Kristine Belson New Boss

Sony Pictures Entertainment today named Oscar nominee Kristine Belson as President, Sony Pictures Animation in the wake of Michelle Raimo Kouyate’s departure from the post last week. Belson comes from DreamWorks Animation where she spent nearly a decade, specifically serving as executive producer on the studio’s Oscar-nominated titles The Croods and How to Train Your Dragon. Belson will lead the development and production of original material as well as current and future franchises. She will report to Amy Pascal, Co-Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment and Chairman of Sony Pictures Entertainment Motion Picture Group.

Belson joined DWA in 2005 as head of development, where she oversaw the development and acquisition of all feature film projects for the company.

“I’m thrilled to have Kristine join the studio – I know she has a first-rate sense of story and a great eye for material,” said Pascal in statement. “But she’s more than that: Kristine is a visionary who will make our animation studio a home where the animation industry’s best talent can come and make the films they want to make. I am confident Kristine will help SPA become an even more vital component of the way we construct our overall slate.”

Belson added, “Ten years ago I was lucky enough to join DreamWorks Animation, where I developed a deep understanding and love of the artistry of animation. I am now so charged up to be able to bring my experience and perspective to Sony Pictures Animation, to build on what they’ve begun and to reach new heights. I am deeply grateful to Amy, my first mentor, for giving me this incredible opportunity.”

6 Comments

• on Jan 27, 2015 11:46 am

Kristine is amazing. She will be missed at DWA but is off to do amazing things at Sony Animation. Well deserved!

• on Jan 27, 2015 11:59 am

I hope she lets the film directors do their jobs and doesn’t treat them like kids who need constant overseeing. Let the directors make the movies in the manner and method they choose, not as dictated to them. Allow the creative directors and artists to do their jobs and make HER look great in the result.

• on Jan 27, 2015 12:14 pm

Thank u anonymous. The previous SPA head treated the animators and staff with such disdain she was nicknamed the Silverback. Figure it out. Osher needs to go as well. Soon I hope.

Freddy • on Jan 27, 2015 12:57 pm

One of the very best execs I have ever worked with. Congrats, KB!

• on Jan 27, 2015 11:15 pm

Now will they the animator back to LA instead of outsourcing to Vancouver?

BeenThereManyTimes • on Jan 31, 2015 2:42 pm

One of the most common – and counter productive – mistakes animation studio execs make is to do those blasted weekly check-ins with a given production, inwhere they insist on viewing all material-in-progress, even if the director isn’t ready to show it. It always seems like the exec feels the need to make sure the director is either doing his/her job or is afraid what the filmmaker/s might be “up to.” Such check-ins display a blatant of lack-of-respect for the very movie maker/s the studio has hired to do the job in the first place. It stifles honest creativity and creates a culture of fear; and an “us-versus-them” atmosphere.

Execs AND producers should wait until the director is fully confident about what he/she is showing. It should be the director’s choice as to when he/she screens a story reel or presents art/designs/models. In the best case scenario, execs should not see a story reel until it is complete and plays as a fully realized film.

Only THEN can there be a productive dialogue about how to make it better.